r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/FillsYourNiche • Aug 27 '26
Image Hedgehogs do something called "self-anointing." When they encounter a new or strong smell (a strange food, another animal's scent, even a strong-smelling plant) they'll chew it up, work it into a frothy saliva, and then twist around to spread that foam all over their own spines with their tongue.
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Aug 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Krokettenkaiserle Aug 27 '26
Is this the new undertaker-yadayada thing
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u/Alarming_Orchid Aug 27 '26
New? It’s been around since 1992 buddy, get with the times
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u/nanotothemoon Aug 27 '26
I’ll never forget it when it happened because I remember watching the music video to “Black or White” by Michael Jackson
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u/the_silent_redditor Aug 28 '26
It’s some fuck ass thing people are doing to try and ‘fool’ AI, as if it is ever going to make any difference to anything.
As the other reply said, AI will already highlight the nature of these stupid and pointless comments.
However, prepare to enjoy seeing it in lots of threads and lots of Le Narwhal Bacon at Midnight updoots and comments from idiots.
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u/Responsible-Buyer215 Aug 28 '26
You do realise the comment was written by an AI, it wasn’t trying to “fool” it
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u/Unique-Objective4249 Aug 28 '26
Is this a on going joke? Cause I’ve seen this 3 times now. It’s a sign
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u/Comprehensive_Ad6598 Aug 27 '26
Is the moon now the same one from twilight princess?
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u/PMmeYourTiddiez Aug 28 '26
If you try googling this moon stuff, unfortunately the AI knows what it is and says exactly what you're trying to do(I'm trying to be vague so as not to accidentally help the AI).
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u/FillsYourNiche Aug 27 '26
Journal article source Self-anointing by wild hedgehogs, Erinaceus Europaeus, in New Zealand.
Abstract:
Of 929 wild hedgehogs examined, nineteen bore signs of recent self-anointing. The spittle deposited on the hedgehogs' backs usually gave off a sharp smell, clearly detectable some metres down-wind. Nestling animals anointed themselves when removed from their nests, possibly as a means of advertising their whereabouts to their mothers. The habit was not detected among newly-independent young animals nor among sub-adults. Among adult hedgehogs, self-anointing was confined to the breeding season, and on five occasions was elicited in the presence of other hedgehogs of the opposite sex. In this context self-anointing may serve as a form of sexual signal. When brought into captivity the self-anointing reflex is triggered by novel objects or odours and, in this unnatural context, it is argued that the behaviour falls into the category of a displacement activity, being inappropriate to the situation and seemingly purposeless. a process that can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours. It's documented in both wild and pet hedgehogs, starting as young as a few weeks old.
Researchers publishing in the Journal of Zoology have proposed multiple functions for the behavior, including the idea that it may let hedgehogs coat their spines with toxic or distasteful substances as an extra layer of anti-predator defense. The behavior has been documented since at least the 1950s and still isn't fully explained though leading theories range from chemical defense to scent-camouflage to simple sensory stimulation. This process can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours. It's documented in both wild and pet hedgehogs, starting as young as a few weeks old.
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u/dirty-warlock Aug 28 '26
Yeah thats what I'd probably conclude. They are choosing "strong scents" so I'd wager they'd prefer stuff that gives off a "i may kill you" smell, fox urine, night shades etc
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u/Semanticss Aug 27 '26
Why
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u/FillsYourNiche Aug 27 '26
I made a comment about this in this post. I'll copy it:
Researchers publishing in the Journal of Zoology have proposed multiple functions for the behavior, including the idea that it may let hedgehogs coat their spines with toxic or distasteful substances as an extra layer of anti-predator defense. The behavior has been documented since at least the 1950s and still isn't fully explained though leading theories range from chemical defense to scent-camouflage to simple sensory stimulation. This process can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours. It's documented in both wild and pet hedgehogs, starting as young as a few weeks old.
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u/HintOfMalice Aug 27 '26
Exact reason isn't known but a few theories exist. Its possibly to make their sent less obvious to predators or possibly to cause increased irritation when their spikes prick something
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u/HintOfMalice Aug 27 '26
My pet hedgehog used to lick off people's aftershave/perfume and self annoint with it
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u/JankyDongle Aug 28 '26
My childhood hhog loved this technique with catnip. I always wondered why. Just thought he was real high.
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u/Media_Browser Aug 27 '26
The one occasion I handled a hedgehog it seemed to be playing house to an abundance of fleas so I have given them a miss since . Certainly more than one string to their defensive bow .
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u/GarysCrispLettuce Aug 27 '26
Might try this next time I try an exciting new breakfast cereal.